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The time for warm blankets, puppy cuddles, and playing in the snow is right around the corner! But with the snow also comes the concern of playing outside with your dog in winter. Often times we become fearful that going outside will harm their paws so we stay indoors. So, what do you do when there is snow outside and your dog needs exercise? There are lots of fun things you can do with your...

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Do you own a farm?  Do you homestead?  Did you know that regenerative agriculture could help the bee population?  Paul Kernaleguen says regenerative agriculture has brought bees back to his farm.  “With the flowering species [of plants] we have now, you definitely see more,” he said.  What is regenerative agriculture?  It is a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodive...

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For the holidays or a birthday, it can be tempting to give a cute, cuddly pet as a gift.  Yet along with the precious purr that won’t quit or the fluffy tail that never stops wagging, there comes a commitment to another life for the next 10, 15, or even 20 years.

No one wants to give an unwanted gift—especially a vulnerable one that lives and breathes.  If you’re thinking about giving...

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Icy, arctic, winter weather is bearing down on many parts of the country. These cold temperatures not only hurt humans, they can also harm animals. If you can bring your pets inside during the colder weather, please do so. However, if you can’t, here are 12 tips to help keep pets safe in frigid temperatures.

Get a wellness examination. The American Veterinary Association recommends t...

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We have a mutually beneficial relationship with our pets. Our dogs are our walking and play companions, our cats give us a reason to be still and “feel the vibration.” Security, warmth, and love—these are some of the reasons we love to have animals in our lives. So when it comes time to buy gifts for the ones we care most for, it’s kind of difficult to separate our animals companions from ou...

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• They can fly, and they’re not too bad at it either. A wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) flying at full speed can reach 55 mph. This speediness is only a trait of wild turkeys, though; the domesticated variety was bred to be hefty, not aerodynamic.
  The birds were named after the country. The turkey is an American bird, so why does it share its name with a country on the other side of...
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Ducks are omnivorous birds that will eat a wide variety of foods, and a varied diet provides good nutrition for healthy duckling growth feather strength, muscle development, breeding success, safe migrations, and more. Understanding what ducks eat can help birders provide a suitable diet for any ducks that frequent their local ponds or that may even venture into suburban or urban parks, yard...

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Guinea pigs are among the less mainstream, but quite popular pets which people like to keep for various reasons. It isn’t difficult to figure out the cause of their popularity, but a list of mainstream pros and cons can be listed about them. Guinea pigs are popular rodents (you read that right, they are considered rodents) across the globe and are available in almost all parts of the world. ...

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Pets often spend considerable time home alone, especially if their family works or attends school every day. A quick visit from a pet care provider can help break up the monotony of the day by giving your dog a walk and chance to go potty, providing exercise for your cat or dog, giving fresh water, and making sure everything is generally “okay.” But what about the rest of the day? Many peopl...

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It’s fall. It’s Halloween. It’s time for fun, candy, and costumes. You’ve got your costume ready, now what about your pet? Some pet owners may forego a costume, but for those pet owners who want their furry friends to join in on the festivities this year here are some safety tips regarding Halloween pet costumes:



Pet Halloween outfits should: --be lightweight and allow a full...

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It may not sound appealing to you or me, but to your cat or kitten, a loose or dangling electric cord is a fun and exciting toy to play with. Chewing on toys is part of the action for young cats, but cats chewing electric cords is not something we want to encourage.



So how can I stop my cat from chewing on electric cords? Here are several solutions you may want to try:

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Bats, which are called and thought of as creepy, scary, and spooky, often get a bad rap. They’re an important species that impact our daily lives in ways we might not even realize. From pollinating our favorite fruits to eating pesky insects to inspiring medical marvels, bats are heroes of the night.



There are over 1,300 species of bats worldwide. Bats can be found on nearly ...

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There’s nothing like the crisp, cool air and luscious foliage to get you excited for the changing seasons. Your pet, too, is probably welcoming a break from summer’s hot, sticky weather. But fall is also a time of lurking dangers for our furry friends. From household poisons to cold weather hazards, there are important safety issues to consider.



Be cautious of rodenticides an...

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Patsy Gibbons, an Irishman from County Kilkenny, Ireland, is dad to Grainne and Minnie, two foxes he found abandoned as pups. Worried for their survival, he nursed them back to health. After making a full recovery, they decided to adopt Patsy as their dad. Unsurprisingly, the trio receives a lot of attention from local children, so much so that schools in the area invite the unusual threesom...

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Hurricane season is upon us, and as of right now, hurricane Dorian is barreling towards the southeast coastline.  You know what to do to keep you and your family safe, but what about your pets?  Here are a few guidelines to prepare your pets in case of an emergency—hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfire, etc.

First and foremost you should take your pets with you and have a disaster p...

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April is Heartworm Awareness Month, but we believe facts about heartworms are good to know any time of the year. Heartworm is a serious disease that affects both dogs and cats. This disease is extremely dangerous and, if not treated properly, it is often fatal. You may already know the basics about this disease but the more you know, the better equipped you will be to prevent it or, in the w...

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Bees have been much in the news of late, and for the saddest of reasons: due to habitat loss, global warming, pesticides, and monocrop agriculture, their numbers are in sharp decline across the United States. The loss of bees and other threatened pollinators could damage not only the world’s economy, but also endanger its very ecosystem.

But not all bees are created equal: there are n...

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended amendment of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) ingredient definition of dried black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to include feeding to poultry. Why is this important? The approval of BSFL for use in poultry feed expands the potential for this ingredient as a more sustainable source of protein and enables a nutrit...

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Check on Instagram, Facebook, and any other social media platform and you’ll see cute pictures of dogs accompanying their owners on outdoor adventures…and you’ll also see cats.  That’s right, CATS.  There is a new trend becoming more and more popular, and that is cats on leashes.  It even has its own hashtag: adventurecat.  With new products like cat leashes, harnesses, and backpacks with se...

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It’s easy to get started feeding birds, but often times people make simple mistakes that can keep birds from enjoying the feeders. While some mistakes only make feeders unattractive, others can endanger the birds or even drive them away. Feeding birds requires more than just putting out birdseed, and avoiding these top 10 bird feeding mistakes can ensure a healthy, nutritious buffet for a wi...

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Long gone from their home in San Francisco, the California pipevine swallowtail is back thanks to one man transforming his yard into a habitat for them.

For centuries the beautiful butterfly thrived in San Francisco and around the Bay Area.  But as the region became increasingly urbanized in the early 1900s, the pipevine swallowtail began to disappear.  Today, it’s an extremely rare ...

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This one’s for bird watchers and for people who enjoy feeding and providing nesting materials for wild birds year round.  What is a bird nesting ball?  It is a sphere, usually made up of twigs, which holds nesting material for birds that hangs in nearby trees.  This material can be fur, other twigs, straw, etc.  An Alpaca Nesting Ball is particularly unique because it only contains alpaca fu...

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Ahh, 4^th of July.  Cookouts, friends, family… and fireworks.  Beautiful fireworks, but LOUD fireworks.  Loud noises, such as fireworks and thunderstorms, can cause anxiety in our furry loved ones which can be acquired over time or after a traumatic incident.  Here are some basic ways to help calm anxiety with your pets:

• Create a sense of calmness and compl...
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When you think of the word “rodent,” do you think of something nasty rooting around in the trash or scurrying along the dark underbelly of a subway tunnel?  The word “rodent” has a very negative connotation to most people.  In actuality, many rodents are adorable, fuzzy, and familiar household pets.  Here are 5 common rodents which are more than just vermin:

• Guinea p...
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A few years back, I took a scheduled ride on a horse at the Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC.  Before the ride and during the ride, we got 411 on the daily care of these majestic animals.  They visit the chiropractor more than I do!  They eat a lot of hay, are well groomed, and are extremely well-cared for.  Their health and happiness are top priority.  So it made me wonder, what are the ba...

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It is still technically spring, but the hot and humid weather is already here.  Heat Awareness Day was May 31^st, so here are some tips on protecting your pets in hot weather.

• Never leave your pets in a car, even if the windows are cracked. Dogs and cats pant, this helps cool themselves by precipitating convection.  Their...
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Opossums are some of the misunderstood animals north of Mexico.  They’re often thought of as dimwitted, dirty creatures whose most impressive trick is acting like roadkill.  The truth is just the opposite.  Opossums are smarter, cleaner, and beneficial to humans than many other animals you would find in their dwellings.  Here are some cool facts about opossums you didn’t know:

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Get ready for The UltiMutt Race with these helpful videos from Lindsay. Have you signed up for Ultimutt Race yet? There's still time!

 Get ready for The UltiMutt Race with these helpful videos from Lindsay. Have you signed up for Ultimutt Race yet? There's still time!Get ready for The UltiMutt Race with these helpful videos from Lindsay. Have you signed up ...

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It is estimated that there are more than 8,000 reptiles and 6,000 amphibians inhabiting the Earth.  They are as small as a dwarf gecko and as large as a Chinese Giant Salamander or saltwater crocodile.  With such diversity, it is easy to see why reptiles and amphibians are such major players in the pet industry.  Those keeping reptiles or amphibians as pets are affectionately called “herpers...

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Keeping reptiles and amphibians like lizards, turtles, or snakes as pets is a uniquely rewarding experience, but not as simple as more traditional pets like cats or dogs.  Here are a few Do’s and Don’t’s for raising healthy, happy reptile and/or amphibian pets:

DO:  Create a natural terrarium environment.  Just like humans, reptiles and amphibians ar...

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Here at Critter Boutique we’ve recently added a new item to our website, it’s Tenebrio Farm Organic Frass Fertilizer. But, what exactly is frass and how do I use it? Great question! Here’s an explanation of frass and the many ways to use it so your plants and vegetables/fruits can be the best they can be this spring and summer season:



What is Frass? Frass is a technical term ...

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It was devastating to see the Notre Dame cathedral burning last week. But did you know Notre Dame had three bee hives, all with 60,000 bees in each hive, living on a roof over the sacristy beneath the rose window…AND THEY ALL SURVIVED! That’s right, they all made it out of that horrible travesty. Nicolas Geant, Notre Dame’s beekeeper, said the hives were not touched by the blaze because they...

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Critter Boutique recently attended the Saving Wildlife One Pint at a Time event held at Brewery 85 in Greenville, SC. It was a family-friendly and fun event, but more importantly it was eye-opening. If you have ever wondered what some of the basic things you can do to help save wildlife, here’s an easy list to follow:



Learn about the endangered species in your area. Teach you...

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April is Pet First Aid Awareness month and in honor of that we will be going over five basic things to know/do if your pet needs first aid.  Of course, with any medical emergency the best course of action is to bring your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible, but here are some first aid techniques which can help you stabilize your pet until you get to a ve...

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Have you ever wondered what the difference between Mash and Crumble, in terms of chicken feed, is?  Or, what about Grower Chicken Feed and Layer Chicken Feed?  Here are the different types of chicken feed and their explanations:

• Starter Chicken Feed is a protein dense variety of chicken feed designed to meet the dietary requirements of baby chicks. The high p...
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Spring is finally here!  Even though there are a few questionable colder temps than we are used to, spring is technically here.  Sunshine and good weather means cooped up pets eager to get outside and play.  Here are some tips to getting your pet ready for spring:

• Grooming is Essential: Pets need to shed their winter coats, even if they are inside pets.  A re...
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We all try to eat right.  Some of us do it better than others.  When preparing food for yourself, or even for your pets, there are some common things that may unknowingly make their way into your food which can be toxic for your pets.  Here are some common things to try and avoid:

Alcohol:  Desserts containing alcohol or yeast-containing dough are often the unknown c...

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Adopting a rescue pet from an animal shelter and/or fostering animals is very rewarding.  That is not to say it isn’t challenging, but the rewards do outweigh the challenges. 

Let’s get into adoption.  You can certainly feel good about adopting shelter or rescue animals from a shelter knowing that you are really saving two lives.  These animals are u...

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Myths About Pet Food and Nutrition:

• The best pet food is sold/advocated by veterinarians.  You should always pay attention to the ingredients on the package.  Most large brands sold in vet offices are marked “premium” and are often manufactured by conglomerate food manufactures who use protein from grains or grain by-product like corn gluten...
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Yes, it is true Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring this year for Groundhog’s Day; however, when driving into work today I came across some sleet and dark looming clouds.  A thought quickly came to mind: “I don’t believe I’m fully prepared or my vehicle is fully prepared for inclement weather.”  How do you prepare yourself for bad weather, AND, how do you prepare your pets for bad we...

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Valentine’s Day is that special time of the year where couples express their love by going all out with candy, flowers, lavish gifts, and expensive meals. Lovebirds is a term meaning two people who are very much in love with each other. But did you know actual Lovebirds are not always best kept in pairs?

Here are five facts you didn’t know about Lovebirds:

#1: Lovebirds are not al...

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Cats sure are mysterious, smart, and cool little creatures!

In honor of this month being 'Cat Health month', we put together 13 of our favorite facts about cats that are sure to surprise you! 

1. Cats can't see in complete darkness

They just need 1/8 of the light that humans need to be able to see

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Are you having trouble with Starlings at your feeders? Are they running your songbirds off and eating all their food? Keep reading for some tips on getting rid of these pesky bully birds.

Don't feel like reading? Watch our YouTube video below and visit our YouTube channel for more where that came from!

What's the big deal about Starlings?
Starlings are a non-native, invasive...

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There are many types of feeders and water founts, also called drinkers, for poultry. From traditional hanging varieties to "egg-stravagant" DIY masterpieces, we will explore a great many here.

Don't feel like reading? Watch our YouTube video below and visit our YouTube channel for more where that came from!

If you've ever wondered how many types of feeders exist for chickens, j...

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Last week’s post covered dust mites; what they are, what they do, and some ways to prevent them that can save you some money. We mentioned that this weeks’ post would give you all the benefits of having a dust bath (or several!) as well as all the materials you need to Do-It-Yourself at home for little to no money!

As promised, here is everything you need to know about dust baths and...

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As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, it's time to start getting our chicken coops ready for the approaching winter. Here are our best tips on how to keep your chickens safe, healthy, and warm at night.

Don't feel like reading? Watch our YouTube video below and visit our YouTube channel for more where that came from!

First Things First

We all experience wint...

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As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, it's time to start getting our chicken coops ready for the approaching winter. Here are our best tips on how to keep your chickens safe, healthy, and warm at night.

Don't feel like reading? Watch our YouTube video below and visit our YouTube channel for more where that came from!

First Things First

We all experience wint...

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Is your young flock suddenly losing all their feathers? Fear not! It's a normal part of chicken life that happens every Fall. If you're wondering what's causing it and what you can do to help, read on for answers to the big questions.

Don't feel like reading? Watch our YouTube video below and visit our YouTube channel for more where that came from!

Help! My chicken is losing fe...

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Why do pets get bored?
Animals that are confined in any way can be subject to boredom, especially if they are alone. Confinement, whether it be a cage in your home or in a large zoo exhibit, is not natural for animals. Stimulation is important for the well-being of the animal and also can help to decrease some of the problem behaviors and symptoms that can be attributed to just plain boredom...

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Do you ever have days where your dog needs to burn off some energy, but you can't leave the house? We have some remedies!

Don't feel like reading? Watch our YouTube video below and visit our YouTube channel for more where that came from!

Why it's Important

Sometimes it's raining for days on end. Maybe there's three feet of snow on the ground and it's freezing cold outsid...